Chris Faltin’s new automobile comes with all of the bells and whistles. It additionally has an outside emergency lighting system. And with all of the area inside, it’s effectively fitted to its subsequent incarnation and at the very least one journey to Soldier Field, the place Faltin plans to make use of it for tailgating at this Sunday’s Bears sport.
“I enjoy watching the game in warm weather,” Faltin stated. “This will be the perfect vehicle for it.”
He bought the 2005 International Road Rescue 4300 ambulance Sept. 13 for his towing firm, paying $10,000 for it after listening to the Palos Fire Protection District posted it on Municibid, an internet website that auctions authorities surplus gadgets.
His Mokena-based towing firm plans to intestine it out after which use it to assist heavy obligation automobiles corresponding to vans damaged down on the street.
“The unit will be loaded with oil dry and other adsorbents, cones, tools, air compressors, things like that,” he stated.
The Palos hearth division eliminated all of its logos as a part of the method of making ready the automobile on the market, however the emergency lights stay.
Officials with the public sale firm have observed a spike in individuals buying outdated ambulances, for each work and pleasure.
Faltin’s firm, Illinois Fleet Service, has 11 vans he deploys for varied emergencies, together with six tow vans. This month’s buy is his first ambulance.
“The main issue here is, two years ago you could buy a van for thirty thousand; now they are sixty thousand and not available,” he stated.
The firm has been offering roadside emergency service for 20 years and towing for about six years.
The on-line public sale website Municibid was based in 2006 as an outlet for presidency businesses to promote surplus gadgets.
The web site final week listed three gadgets on the market in Illinois — a set of moveable jacks, miscellaneous truck and bus elements and a set of rusted out school-like lockers from the Chicago Transit Authority.
Sophie Eden, director of promoting for Municibid, stated police vehicles are the preferred automobiles offered on the positioning.
“The Crown Victoria is a favorite but also people like the Dodge Chargers and the Ford Explorers too,” Eden stated. “Ambulances have been gaining popularity the past couple years. People seem to be buying them and overhauling them to become recreation vehicles.”
Eden believes the pandemic in addition to the excessive value of RVs has made ambulances a extra interesting choice for these desirous to discover the U.S.
“They have plenty of storage space,” she stated. “It has cabinets and shelves and plenty of power too. It even has a sink to hook up to water. Just add a minifridge, microwave and bed and you are pretty much set.”
Municibid, primarily based in Pennsylvania, expenses a purchaser’s charge to the successful bidder. Most of the cash returned again to a authorities company is used to purchase new tools, Eden stated.
Joseph Ruzich is a contract reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com